2 charged in connection with stolen brooch once owned by former Texas governor's daughter

WEST COLUMBIA, Texas – Two people have been charged after a historic brooch believed to have been worn by the daughter of a former Texas governor was stolen from a museum building in Brazoria County last week. 

Carla Fuentes, 26, and Tirso Perez, 24, had been charged with state felony theft.

The brooch – made of black carbon and surrounded with pearls and a diamond at its center – was last seen before 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Varner-Hogg Plantation, a state historic site in the 1700 block of North 13th Street in West Columbia.

The Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office Fuentes and Perez got into the museum and took the brooch, as well as its glass box. The next morning, authorities were notified of the burglary. It's unclear from authorities how the duo got into the museum.

The black carbon part of the brooch is from the Spindletop oil gusher in Beaumont and is believed to have once belonged to Ima Hogg, daughter of former Texas Gov. James Hogg.

Fuentes and Perez were taken into custody Saturday after they tried to sell the brooch at a West Columbia Jewelry store.